The Repair of Intergenerational Trauma 

I believe it is. Trauma isn’t remembered cognitively. it’s felt by the body. If you read In An Unspoken Voice by Peter Levine I think you’ll be able to understand how a circumcision procedure can be experienced as traumatic

Please note that my response is based on traditional practices in my community where boys are circumcised in teenage as a symbol of initiation into adulthood. Circumcision is important for boys to be recognised as adult members of the community and be deemed fit to partake in all sorts of adult milestones. We believe in the 'I am because we are' philosophy. Boys and their families look forward to their circumcision. I have known of boys who went into real worry and anxiety at the thought they, for whatever reasons, might not be initiated alongside their peers. While I agree circumcision can result in trauma, I know too that rejection of an uncircumcised boy (cannot be called man if uncircumcised regardless of his age) by the community and self stigma (deep sense of shame and a feeling of not belonging) can result in trauma.

@@njoki1838 This is a great example. What is traumatic for one person is often not traumatic for another. The meaning-making of an initiation ceremony in your community is important for who the young man is and his standing in the community. Pain does not necessarily cause trauma -- but instead, violence does because it takes away choice and autonomy.

Yes.

Njoki making an informed decision to accept any procedure is protective of mental health. Young people making an informed choice to undergo this procedure is very different from people having non medically necessary procedures without their consent, or before they are old enough to give informed consent. Even so, it must be remembered that although our neocortex can decide to accept surgery our body can still feel violated. It’s important to allow the body’s innate trauma response to happen. Peter A Levine explains this very well. I fear that often post operative shaking is seen as unwanted and therefore prevented however Dr Levine shares that this is a very necessary part of trauma processing. Reference: In An Unspoken Voice.